Transformative Leadership Programme 2025/2026 - Level 8 Accredited
Details
Transformative Leadership Programme 2025/2026 - Level 8 Accredited
Applications for the Transformative Leadership Programme 2025-2026 are now open.
Transformation is an integral part of life and it is an integral part of leadership. It is the process by which we make our vision of what could be into a reality.
Transformation is leadership.
The Transformative Leadership Programme is back...
Developed to be equal parts practical and inspirational, this unique Level 8 programme accredited through Maynooth University will strengthen and deepen your capacity and ambition as a leader within the Irish community and voluntary sector.
Carefully attuned to the challenges that our sector is currently facing, the Transformative Leadership Development Programme will provide you with an expanded model of leadership to bring back and apply to your organisation, along with the key skills required to get the job done.
From different styles of leadership as well as self and organisational awareness, and with a particular emphasis on the personal and reflective leadership journey, this powerful leadership programme is an important milestone along the road towards making Ireland a more fair and just country for all.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN
This is an extremely popular programme so make sure you get your application in on time! You can now download the application form here.
Deadline for applications is 9am Monday 29 September 2025 to enable the co-ordination of the one-to-one coaching sessions prior to the programme commencing on 20 November 2025.
The selection committee will review your application and will reach out with their decision. Please note that if your application is successful, you will need to complete payment for the programme before the course starts with Orientation Day on 20 November 2025.
Bursary Available
As part of The Wheel and The Leadership Academy’s ongoing commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline within the community and voluntary sector, we are offering two fully funded bursaries for the upcoming Transformative Leadership programme. These bursaries are intended for individuals from traditionally marginalised backgrounds who would otherwise be unable to participate due to financial constraints. Applicants must be affiliated with an organisation that is a member of The Wheel. If you meet the criteria and would like to request an application form, please contact Ciara at ciarapower@wheel.ie.
Key Dates:
Orientation Day: 20 November 2025
Module 1: 14 - 16 January 2026
Module 2: 25 - 27 March 2026
Module 3: 6 - 8 May 2026
Who is this course for?
This leadership development programme is specifically aimed at senior management – the paid professional leaders of organisations in the community and voluntary / nonprofit sector.
What the Programme Covers:
The programme is designed in four overarching modules, each covering a key leadership competency:
Module 1: Personal Leadership Model Building - The first module focuses on enhancing effective leadership through a combination of personal and shared reflection, as well as practical skills development, theoretical inputs and group practice.
Module 2: Understanding and Leading Change - This module examines the complexities of advocating and leading change, including internal communications, fostering leadership in others and working with frameworks for change to develop a personal vision for leadership.
Module 3: Systems Change – Working Creatively with Complexity - the third module provides a model for understanding organisational culture and how it relates to leadership, working creatively with conflict, exploring complexity theory and its
Module 4: Building Strategic Alliances - The final module widens the learning to include skills development in collaborative working, working with power dynamics, as well developing a personal leadership plan and network for the future.
How the Programme is delivered:
Each participant will complete the Kantor Behavioral Propensity Profile (BI). This on line psychometric assessment helps individuals and groups discover the typical ways that they interact with other individuals, with groups and in their organisations. This tool will be used throughout the programme including an individual coaching session for each participant prior to module 1;
Reflective practice supported by learning journals;
Creative media e.g. drama, story-telling, poetry;
Small and large group work.
What you will take away as a leader from this course:
You will understand the Development of a personal leadership style and values;
You will have an increased capacity to find, ignite and develop leadership in others;
You will have greater communication competencies to transform individual and team relationships, organisations and whole systems;
You will learn innovative approaches and skill sets to lead change in a complex and turbulent environment;
You will develop a strong network of leaders within the sector.
If this sounds like something you and your organisation could benefit from, please read on for details on how to apply.
How the course is accredited:
On completion of the course, you will receive a Professional Certificate in Community Education & Equality Studies NUI Level 8, Maynooth University
Meet Your Trainers:
Monica Manning is an experienced Dialogue facilitator, leadership development consultant/practitioner and coach with over 30 years of experience in the charity and not for profit sector. Her passionate belief in the power of Dialogue as a relationship change method along with a strong commitment to equality and social justice underpin every aspect of her leadership practice.
She is formerly of the NGO Community Action Network (CAN) and has designed and delivered the Transformative Leadership Programme since its inception. She has extensive experience of working with organisations, at both senior management and staff levels to help them navigate complex change initiatives. She developed many leadership education programmes, facilitated dialogue events for social change, and mentored and coached individual and community leaders.
Her qualifications include an MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice from Bath University, She is an accredited Dialogue Facilitator and Change Interventionist with The Kantor Institute and Dialogix UK.
Bronagh O’Neill brings 30 years of leadership and change management experience in the Community and Voluntary Sector, operating in frontline, management, and governance roles, to her facilitation of the Transformative Leadership programme.
Bronagh’s work includes leadership and organisational development within a human rights and equality framework, with a particular emphasis on intercultural community leadership, interagency collaborative practice, and active citizenship. She is also a practicing psychotherapist.
Bronagh is passionate about the transformative change that is possible when leaders in the Not for Profit Sector adopt tools to reflect and understand their leadership, and the leadership of those with whom they work.
Bronagh’s ongoing professional training includes the use of Structural Dynamics to successfully influence change in ‘High-Stakes’ group settings (Dialogix). She holds an MSc in Group Analytic Psychotherapy (UCD) and MA in Applied Social Studies (MU).
This programme is part-funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
through the National Training Fund.
